Securing means for tool handles



Jan. 12, 1937. R. E. BEEGLE SECURING MEANS FOR TOOL HAN-DLES Filed March 2, 1935 Patented Jen. 12,1937

UNITED 'STATES PATENT. OFI-FICE The present improvements are particularly adapted for'use with hammers of the type disclosedand claimed in my copending application of'Ser'ial No. 7,377, filed FebruaryZO, 1935.

. .5 This invention relates to improvements `in se-` curing means for tool handles, and more particularly to an improved'means for securing the handle of a hammer or the like,` to a head of a type provided with an eye' for vthe reception of the handle. y

The prevailing practice in'this art has heretofore consisted, principally for. the sake of economy, in the insertion of the end of a Wood handle in to the -eye of a hammer head, the handle' end being expanded by means of a metal wedge. The inexibilityof the wood, and the limited extent of its possible compression, render untthese time-honored expedients. I t isv vaccordingly a I general object of the inventienv to provide an improved, resilient cushioning insert betw'een the handle end and the wall of the eye, .together with provisions for a variation of the frictional" relation betweenthe assembled parts.

` Afurther object of the inventionis attained yinthe provision for internally expanding, as well as externally gripping, theend of a handle received by the eye ofthetool head.

Yetanother object of the invention is attained 'fe in an improved-resilient or cushioning connecpression or resilienceV of the connection being freely adjustable from time to time, and such'as to minimize the transmission of driving shock and vibration from .the tool head tothe handle.

-A further important object of the invention is realized inthe provisionof adjustable headand handle-balancing means, such that the elementsthereof may be used solely for balancing purposes, or as parts of the arrangement toolj handle and head.

` Yet another object of the invention is attained 'in an arrangement whereby a relatively' malleable ,or deformable insert is employed-I for expansion of the head-holding part of the handle, and such 4 54 that the letter is externally cushioned within the `'head by an elastic element under variable com- PreSSQn.

. vFurtherpbjects and-advantages of thezinvelnfI tionr will appear as the description proceeds,- and 50. fromthe'accompanying drawing, in which:

f fpla'neincludingthe axestofthe head and handle;

tion between a tool handle and its head, the coin-V for assemblingthe s claims.- Cl. soszalf Fig. 3 is av section transversely of a handle of a tool equipped in accordance with the present invention, and as'viewed along line 3-3 of Fig.1; Fig. 41s .a side elevation of a metal expander element such as may be used in spreading or deform- -ing the metal insert internally of the handle end;

Fig. 5 isa spanner wrench of a typeadapted for threading the nut element of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation in a plane corre.- sponding to that ot Fig. 1, but. illustrating a modiied arrangement for assembling the parts; Fig. 7 is a view in a plane corresponding to that of Fig. 1, but illustrating a modied arrangement for internally' expanding -the head Aend of the handle and vfor externally embracing the handle- -end within the eye; Fig. 8 is a sectional `elevation as viewed along line 8-'4 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation as .viewed in a plane corresponding to-those of Figs.-1 and 7,

- but illustrating a still further modication of the handleand head-securing assembly, and Fig. 10 'is a fragmentary section in a plane transverse to lthe handle but within the head portion, and as viewed along line I O-I l of-Fig. 9.

Referring now by characters of reference to the.,

drawing, the handle ls, usually formed of wood and of circular or oval section, is provided with hammer AlieadiL- or othereweighted portion of.

the driving tool, such as a.- Sledge, maui or the like.

It will lbe noted from'Fig. 1, that in this structure the eye I6 does not extend clear through theA head but terminates in an outer abutment I8 centrally apertured as at I9, in register with the -muti-al opening 'of an annular element or washer 2li,v preferably oi' rubber, the opening I8 being provided for access to an expandible plug member 2|, formed ofv lead or other highly malleable and-deformable material.A The 4plug 2l occupies a preformed'scket 22 therefor.l Surrounding the head-receiving end of theatool, is a'resilent ele- `menti) formed of rubber or a composiiton charber 23 and within the eye areV formed a plmality.

of ribbed projections V24, on the element 23, and which serve'to enhancethe gripping engagement ofthe rubber sleeve or bushing with the internal j .metal wall ofthe socket or eye I6. y Fig. l is a section through the head and a por;- ti on.o f -the handle of aehammeras- 'taken in a My preference isto provide the outer'end of the handle I5 with slots 25,' each otwhich extends av short distance lengthwise of this portion of the handle.' and which, considered depthw'ise. 'are or'arcuate section. This enables a certain '.'acent annular margin of the ller .sleeve 23.

The nut 26 is characterized by external threads,

' and is of a -length to project appreciably beyond the eye andiamng the handle which it lslidably engages. The bushingjor nut may be formed of one piece, but itis preferred to utilize a two-'part member, divided longitudinally as indicated by dotted lines,'at 26A. The two-part arrangement permits a latitude of accommodation for a variation in diameter of handle.- To receive and coact with the bushing26, the eye I6 is internally threaded over a portion of its length as at 21. A convenient expedient for rotating the bushing 26 consists in the provision of a pair or more of opposed wrench-receiving pockets 28 for the reception of the prongs of a spanner 29 (Fig. 5), by

vwhich 'the bushing may be threaded up, or readily Unthreaded for the purpose of .enabling a variable compression of the .resilient or elastic ller such as 23. The purpose-of the arrangement also importantly includes a variation in balance of the assembly according' to the extent the bushing is threaded into the eye, 'and`also permits the nut to bebacked out of the eye1 for the purpose of' i readilyI replacing-the ller 23. In the arrangement of Fig. '1,' it is my preference to provide'in the outer end, or bottom of the socket constituted f in part bythe eye I6, the washer 28, heretofore noted. It will appear-that the cushion lor ller element 23, when compressed endwise under the inuence. of the nut or bushing 26, bottoms againstthe washer and thus expands in radial directions, both outwardly and inwardly, against the wall ofthe eye and about the end of the 'handled l5, within the eye.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of the arrangement of Fig. 1, the metal bushing 30 being shown, in the latter figure, as oftapered construction, the

thickest portionsof its wall beingv outermost ofthe eye and tapered inwardly thereof, with its inner end portion in engagementvnth the resilient sleeve 23. In this form of connection the` outer threads 3| engage threads 32 in a taperedportion of the eye 33. The inner end of the bushing 3 6 ischaracterized by a plurality of slots 34 .producing a castellated aspect in a manner to permitthe end of. the bushing to contract in 4diameter as it is threaded farther `into thelntapered eye portion.

It is to b`e noted that the tapered end of the bushing lmay be extended so that the arrangement .'may be employed in case the resilient sleeve 23 is omitted'. In this case a three-part 'structure ref suits, in which the bushing slidably surrounds .the end of the handle I and may be employed solely for the securement thereof 'into the eye of the head 35. Similarly, the bushing 30 may be employed forl adjusting the balance of the head.. by, properlyadjusting the-mass of the bushing car" ried exteriorly of'the head, and thus bringt the center of gravity of the assembly relatively rearwandly along the handle. The Spanner shown'in Fig. 5 may be employed to engage apertures 36, .in the arrangement of Fig.- 6, in a manner'v similar to the' bushing 28; however,I in either case a hexagon on other' polygonal wrench-receiving innermost end of the eye and serves to provide an abutment for the resilient sleeve 44, which may be generally similar to those heretofore described.

As an element serving the dual` purpose of regulating the' balance of the head and handle assembly, and of selectively tightening n the handle end in the eye, there is employed a member, vpreferably of one-piece, formed of a highly malleable material such as lead. This consists,

as shwn,A of a rather heavy base portion 45 of disc form, centrally of which and inwardly of the handle `projects a stem 46, provided with a tapered .axial aperture 41 so that the stem may be selectively expanded by the tool 48 (Fig. 4) within'a socket 49 in the end of the handle. It may here be noted that the tool 48 is also adapted for expansion of the lead plug element of Fig. l, within the handle. In exterior engagement with the handle end is an annular ange, rim or skirt '50 which is of wedge form in longitudinal section,

y and which preferably, although not necessarily,y

is of annular transverse section as shown by Fig,y '8.. The internal and'external gripping engagei.

' ment of the element 45 prevents splitting of the-` lji idle end, since its skirt portion 50 embraces lthis part of the wood. lAt the same time the taper of the skirt 56 serves selectively to wedge and compress the bushing 44 within the eye, and thus selectively to tighten the handle and control vthe resilience of the connection. It is also important to be noted that the disc portion ex-'- `vterio'rly of the eye will provide, according to the depth of the insertion of the member, a variable balancing expedient for thehandle and head assembly.` In applying the member 46, it may be started manually and then struck inwardly with,l

a hammer to the extentdesired for balancing purposes. Thereafter, if necessary, the tool 48 may beemployedfin the opening 41 selectively to expand the stem 46 within the socket 49.

In the arrangement of Fig.` 9, there is illustrated a handle 80, the head-receiving end 6I of which is preferably flared at its-outer end. Inl l this case the eye 62 within the-head 63 is tapered, being of larger diameter near the outer-end, and of smaller diameternear its in'ner end. A sleeve 64 of rubber or other resilient composition is related to the handle end similarly to theprevious showings. vBearing against Ythe outer 'end face ofthe resilient sleeve 64 ls a collar 65 in. the nature of a washer, centrally apertured and preferably' formed of a relatively rigid lead alloy. Projecting through the opening in the washer 65 is the head end of a bolt 66, whileinwardly of the wwasher and bolt head is'a tapered sleeve 61,

also preferably formed of lead and extending into` a tapered socket 68 in the outer end ofthe handle.

'I'he bolt 66' projects from this point axially through the handle, terminating in a threaded l end 69 which is in threaded engagement with a socketed screw 16, the headY "Il of which projectsoutwardly of the free end of the handle and thev socketof which is internally threaded to engage the threads of the bolt. As the head 'H of the screw element is threaded up the bolt will be drawn farther inwardly of the handle," 'Il' variably to compress the rubber or like sleeve 64, and serving to vary the extent of penetration of the tapered lead sleeve 61. Facilities are thus provided for varying the extent of compression of the sleeve 64, and at the same time ,variably internally expanding the end of the Wood handle. It may be noted that the lead washer or collar may be of any desired thicknessfor counterbalancing purposes, and that its position with respect to the head and handle are varied as the nut 10 is threaded up. A

It may also be noted that parts of the assembly shown by Fig. 9 may be employed for the purposes either of adjusting the balance of the head, or of expanding the end of the handle into snug engagement within the eye, without requiring the use of the resilient sleeve 64. 'Ihe latter is however preferred, to obtain the maximum of adjustment facilities and in fulfillment of its shockabsorbing function.

While the invention has been described with reference to hammers, it is to be understood that this term is generically utilized, and that the features hereof are applicable to sledges, mauls and impact driving elements generally, and in many instances applicable for the securement of any actuating handle member to the implement, tool or device to be manipulated or controlled by the handle.

While the invention has been described with reference to a limited number of possible physical embodiments, it is to be understood that 'many changes may be made in the parts, their combinations and their arrangements, without departing from the full intended spirlt and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

l. In combination in a hand implement of impact type, a head provided with an eye, a handle having an end extended into, and smallerthan said eye, an elastic cushion member about the handle and Within the eye, a metal element in variable compression engagement with the cushion member, and an element of deformable metal constituting a loading within the handle end, and adapted for compressive deformation, internally to expand the end of the handle against said cushion member.

2. In a hand tool of impact type, a head provided With'an eye, a handle having an end extended into and smaller than said eye, a rubber filler about the handle end and within the eye, means for variably compressing the rubber filler about the handle end, and a lead insert located axially of the head end of the handle and adapted A to be deformably compressed in a radial direction for the internal expansion of the handle end against the ller.

3. A hammer head and handle assembly including, in combination, a head having an eye therein and a handle having a head-receiving end smaller than said eye, an elastic bushing Within the eye about the handle end, a nut about the handle end and threadedly engaging the head, said nut being in variable compression engagement with the bushing, and an insert of malleable metal within the handle end, adapted to be deformed for the expansion of the handle end against the elastic bushing.

4. In a hammer head and handle assembly, a

head having an eye, and an abutment near one end of the eye, a handle having an end smaller than and extended into said eye, an elastic bushing about the handle end within the eye, one end of said bushing bearing against said abutment, a metal bushing in variable compression engagement with the elastic bushing, the metal bushing surrounding the handle and being externally threaded, and the eye being provided with internal threads coacting with those of the bushing, and a metallic element within the handle end, adapted to be deformed for the expansion of the handle end against said elastic bushing.

5. In a hand tool of impact type, such as a hammer, a head provided with an eye, a handle having an end within the eye, a rubber bushing about the handle end within the eye, said handle end being recessed to permit interengagement thereof with the rubber bushing upon compression of the bushing, a metal bushing surrounding the handle near one end of the eye, the bushing being externally threaded and the eye being internally threaded to coact with the bushing, the eye being formed to provide an abutment for one end of the rubber bushing to permit variable compression of said bushing between the metal bushing and the abutment.

6. In a handle and head assembly in an impact tool, a tool head having an eye internally threaded near one of its ends, and a portion of reduced or stepped diameter near the opposite end, a handle having an end within the eye, al

tubular rubber insert about the handle end within the eye, one end of the insert bearing against said portion of stepped diameter, an externally threaded metal bushing bearing against the opposite end of the rubber insert and threadedly f engaging the threaded end of the eye, and an element of malleable metal constituting a loading within the handle end, and adapted to be deformed for the expansion of the handle end against the rubber insert.

7. In a hammer head and handle assembly in` cluding a head having an eye therein, a handle having an end extended into the eye, a rubber sleeve about the handle endA within the eye, an element of malleable metal disposed within said handle end and adapted to be deformed for expanding the handle end against said rubber sleeve, and a nut slidably surrounding the handle adjacent said eye, the eye being internally threaded to receive the nut, and the nut projecting beyond the eye, whereby to enable variation in the balance of the assembly according to the extent of threaded engagement of the nut with the head.

8. In a hand tool of impact type such as a hammer, a head having an eye and an abutment near one end of the eye, a resilient element adja' cent said abutment, a handle having one end extended into the eye and bearing against said element, a rubber cushion about the handle and withinthe eye, one end of said cushion abutting said resilient element, said handle end being recessed to permit interengagement thereof with the cushion upon compression of the cushion, and a nut projecting into the eye and threadedly engaging the head for variably compressing the rubber cushion between the nut and said resilient element. i

RAYMOND E. BEEGLE. 

